Closing Bell

The S&P/ASX 200 surged to a record high on Thursday, climbing 0.8% to 8,510.7 by mid afternoon, as investors priced in expectations of an imminent rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia. All 11 ASX sectors advanced, led by energy and consumer discretionary stocks.

Australian equities gained momentum on Wednesday, with the S&P/ASX 200 climbing 0.9% to 8472.3, following softer-than-expected inflation data that bolstered expectations of a February rate cut by the RBA. Eleven of twelve sectors traded higher as major banks, including NAB and RBC, adjusted forecasts in favor of earlier monetary easing.

Technology, electricity, and data centre companies faced significant sell-offs on Tuesday amid investor concerns that China’s advancements in cost-effective AI could pressure earnings for firms like Nvidia and reduce demand for energy-intensive data centres.

The S&P/ASX 200 was higher in early afternoon trading, up just 2.1 points to 8411, reversing earlier gains. Overnight, Wall Street tumbled, with the Nasdaq dropping 3% as traders feared the Chinese start-up DeepSeek’s AI could disrupt the US tech sector. Nvidia shares plunged 16.7%, while Constellation Energy dropped over 20%.

Australian shares advanced on Friday, driven by gains in domestic retailers. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.4% (30.1 points) to 8408.8, with nine of the 11 sectors posting gains, led by consumer discretionary stocks. The All Ordinaries index also climbed 0.4%.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index fell 0.6% on Thursday, losing 49.8 points to close at 8380, with nine of the 11 sectors in decline. Weaker commodity prices, partly due to tariff threats from former President Donald Trump targeting China and the EU, pressured the mining sector.

Uranium-focused stocks Paladin Energy and Boss Energy soared 11.1% and 12.9%, respectively, after Trump indicated potential tariffs on Canadian uranium.

The Australian sharemarket recovered losses on Tuesday afternoon, with the S&P/ASX 200 Index rising 0.7% by 2:23 pm, reversing a morning dip spurred by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff plans. Trump’s proposal to impose 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada by February 1 caused the Australian dollar to drop 0.7% to US62.48¢.

The ASX rose on Monday as investors anticipated Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th U.S. president. The S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.5%, closing at 8347.4, while the All Ordinaries rose 0.4%. Nine out of 11 sectors advanced, although communications and energy stocks ended in the red.

The Australian sharemarket edged lower on Friday afternoon, weighed down by declines in the financial and communication services sectors. The S&P/ASX 200 Index slipped 0.1% or 10.1 points to 8316.9 at mid afternoon, following a 1.4% gain on Thursday. Major banks led the losses, with Commonwealth Bank falling 1%.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index maintained its 1.4% gain, trading 123.8 points higher at 8327.1 by mid afternoon Thursday, while the All Ordinaries rose 1.3%. All 11 sectors advanced, led by banks and technology stocks, as global markets rallied on a softer US consumer price index reading, easing inflation concerns.

The Australian sharemarket reversed earlier gains to close marginally lower on Wednesday, with the S&P/ASX 200 slipping 0.04% (3.5 points) to 8227.5. The All Ordinaries fell similarly, reflecting a subdued trading session as investors awaited key US inflation data.

The Australian sharemarket edged higher on Tuesday, rebounding from a two-week low as bargain hunters entered the market. The S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 0.3%, or 27.2 points, to 8219 by mid-afternoon, with nine of 11 sectors posting gains. The All Ordinaries gained 0.4%. However, trading volumes remained thin.